Homeschool benefits and savings in Castle Rock

Castle Rock Parks and Recreation scholarships pay up to $300 per person a year toward town program fees, and help with recreation center memberships, passes, and punch cards has no annual limit. Any family with financial need, special circumstances, or a temporary hardship can apply, including homeschool families, and the next deadline is December 15, 2026.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Shows financial need

   Applicants demonstrate financial need, special circumstances, or temporary hardship. The application asks your household income, family size, and rent or mortgage amount.

2. Sends last year's tax return

   The previous year's income tax return must be submitted with the application.

3. Lists any assistance programs

   Mark programs you receive, such as SSI, SSDI, HUD housing, food stamps, or free or reduced lunch, and attach documentation.

4. One person per application

   Submit a separate application for each child, since the $300 program limit is per person.

What it is worth

Castle Rock caps scholarship help for program fees at $300 per person a year, with no annual limit for memberships and punch passes; a committee sets each award.

Program fees, one child

$300 a year

Program fees, three children

$900 a year

Rec Center or Miller Activity Complex pass

No annual limit

Punch cards

No annual limit

Contracted programs

Not eligible

Awards depend on financial need and available funding, so the committee may approve less than the maximum.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Pick the activity

   Note the activity name, number, session dates, and price for a first and second choice, or the pass you want.

2. By December 15, 2026

   Apply online or on paper

   Fill out the online application with your tax return attached, or pick up a paper copy at the Miller Activity Complex or Castle Rock Recreation Center front desk.

3. After the deadline

   Committee review

   A committee reviews each application and sets awards based on need and funding.

4. Each quarter

   Apply for the next round

   Scholarships are awarded quarterly, with deadlines on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15.

What it pays for

Covered

• Internal Parks and Recreation programs
• Recreation Center and Miller Activity Complex passes
• Punch cards
• Facility memberships

Not covered

• Contracted programs

Awards depend on available funding, which includes donations to the recreation scholarship fund through the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation.

Who to contact

Courtney Bakos answers questions about scholarship applications and awards.

cbakos@CRgov.com 303-814-7453 Online application

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Colorado

Give written notice to a Colorado school district 14 days before starting and each year the program continues. Notice is not required before age 6; instruction need not begin until age 7 or continue after age 16.

Colorado sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide at least 172 days of instruction averaging four instructional contact hours daily, covering reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular instruction in the U.S. Constitution.
• Testing: Academic evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11: standardized test or evaluation by a qualified person.
• Records: Permanently keep attendance, test or evaluation results, and required immunization records; produce them on 14 days’ written notice when the superintendent has probable cause to believe the program is noncompliant.
• Teachers: Instruction is provided by a parent or legal guardian, or an adult relative designated by the parent; no teaching license is required.

Read the Colorado homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Colorado

Find benefits for your ZIP code